Education and agricultural productivity: Evidence from Uganda

TLDR

Education’s effect on African agricultural productivity is uncertain, with mixed evidence, but it generally complements capital and substitutes for labour. Education boosts productivity mainly by raising physical capital and input purchases, while crop‑choice effects are negligible. In Uganda, household primary schooling raises crop production at a level similar to the developing‑country average, and neighboring workers’ schooling yields external returns that surpass internal gains.

Abstract

Existing evidence on the impact of education on agricultural productivity in Africa is mixed, with estimates usually insignificant although sometimes large. Analysis of the first nationally representative household survey of Uganda gives an estimate of the impact of household primary schooling on crop production comparable to the developing country average. In addition, the primary schooling of neighbouring farm workers appears to raise crop production and these external returns exceed the internal returns. Education complements capital and substitutes for labour. Further productivity increases arise through education increasing physical capital and purchased inputs, but effects via crop choice appear negligible.